Oakland Raiders best & worst draft choices!

Posted on: April 21, 2008 1:42 pm

Edited on: August 28, 2011 3:01 pm

The Oakland Raiders have made some pretty bad choices in the draft especially in recent years. Although Al Davis did acquire HOF bound WR Tim Brown, OL Steve Wisniewski, C Don Mosebar, DL Howie Long and RB Marcus Allen. However, there have also been many draft bust players such as QB Todd Marinovich, S Patrick Bates and OT Robert Gallery.

Top 10 worst draft selection since 1980

1) JaMarcus Russell, QB LSU drafted number 1 because of his big arm and size, but lacked the mentality to be a leader on and off the field. Considered to be the all-time biggest draft bust in NFL history.

2) Patrick Bates, (tie) S Texas A&M 1993 size and speed, but yet he never was able to make any impact in the NFL and was a total draft bust)

2) Todd Marinovich, (tie) QB USC 1991 was to be the Raiders future QB, but failed to make it and ended up having a decent AFL career with the LA Avengers. Has had multiple run-ins with the law in regards to drug marijuana possession.

3) Rickey Dudley, TE Ohio State 1996 was envisoned to be a great recieving TE and had size and speed, but lacked good hands and never panned out with the Raiders or the Buccaneers.

4) Darrell Russell, DT USC had decent subpar seasons with the Raiders after making it to the pro bowl in 1998 1999 but never lived up to the hype of being the overall #2 pick. Was suspended by the NFL for repeated drug abuse and later was killed in a car accident.

5) Derrick Gibson, S Florida State 2001 just 2 picks later the Sliver and Black could have selected WR Reggie Wayne or TE Todd Heap. Only started half the 69 games he played and only registered 3 interceptions, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble recovery.

6) Robert Gallery, OT Iowa being the overall #2 pick he has finally began to show some promise but after 3 years he was consistently being beat by faster DE's and was only until this season that he moved to LG and had a decent contribution.

7) Marc Wilson, QB BYU he was the one who paved the way for Jim McMahon, Steve Young, and Ty Detmer to be successful in which head coach LeVell Edwards implemented a system where the QB's was given 5 recievers to pass on a given play. Although Wilson was part of 2 superbowls. He was enthroned to take over for Jim Plunkett but was out of the league by 1988. Threw for 14,391yds 86tds and 102 interception. Led the New England Patriots to a 1-15record.

8) Tedd Watts, CB Texas Tech 1981 just one pick later was DB Hanford Dixon who played in 3 probowls with the Browns while Watts had a decent rookie year but only managed 5 career interceptions.

9) Bob Buczkowski, DE Pittsburgh possibly the biggest draft bust he only managed to play 2 games with the Raiders and had a 1.5 sacks for his short lived NFL career.

10) Matt Stinchcomb, OT Georgia the fact that Jon Jansen and Luke Petitgout were still available is mindboggling and after 7 seasons he ended up retiring and had the size and agility to anchor the O-line for at least 10 years. His younger brother has had a better career thus far.

10) Don Mosebar, C USC 1983 went to the pro bowl 3 times and his NFL career was cut short by an eye injury. Was an All-pro in 1991.

9) Napoleon Kaufman, RB Washington only played 5 seasons with the Raiders but he ran for over 4,972yds with a 5.8avg per carry and retired abrubtly to pursue a career as a minister.

8) Greg Townsend, DE TCU recorded over 109.5sacks and was selected to 2 pro bowls and was a 4-time All-pro selection.

7) Sean Jones, DT Northwestern although he only played 3 seasons with the Raiders and ended up having a great career with the Houston Oilers and registered 113sacks and made a probowl appearance in 1993 and was a 2-time all-pro.

6) Bo Jackson, RB Auburn although orginally a overall #1 pick by Tampa Bay he opted to play baseball for the Kansas City Royals. While shring the ball with Marcus Allen he ran for 2,782yds and 12tds and pummeled Brian Bosworth and ran for 221yds in a game. His career was cut short by a hip injury, but he had a lasting impact with the Raiders. He is considered one of the best 2 sport athletes.

5) Steve Wisniewski, OL is an 8-time pro bowler and was named to the all 90's decade team. he was known for being a dirty player but he solidified the O-line for 12 seasons.

4) Charles Woodson, CB Michigan former Heisman Trophy Winner had a great season with the Green Bay Packers and is considered the top shut down corner in the NFL. Has recorded over 595tckls and 29int. Has been to 4 pro bowls and is a 3time all-pro selection. Still considered an elite corner and dangerous punt returner.

3) Howie Long, DT Villanova HOF defensive linemen registered 91.5sacks and was on the 80's all decade team and was an 8-time pro bowl player as well as a 6-time all pro selection.

2) Marcus Allen, RB USC 1982 Rushed for over 12,243yds and was the 1st player to rush over 10,000yds and have more than 5,000 recieving yards in a career. Scored 123tds and won the NFL MVP in 1985. Was a 6-time probowl selection & 5-time all-pro selection and was admitted to the HOF in 2000. Ran a then record 191yds in the Superbowl against the Redskins.

1) Tim Brown, WR Notre Dame was the 1st WR to win a Heiman Trophy and leads every major career receiving record for the Raiders and caught 1,094receptions for 14,934yds and 100tds. Was selected to 9 probowls and 7 all-pro and was voted on the 90's all decade team.

Oakland Raiders best & worst draft choices!

Nice list. But wasn't there a guy that the Raiders drafted from BYU that never signed? He said that he would not play on Sundays, and he never came to camp. He said that his (LDS) religion was too important and bypassed an NFL career. If someone know, please let me know what his name is.

Since: Oct 27, 2007

Posted on: February 16, 2010 12:38 pm

Oakland Raiders best & worst draft choices!

I also wanted to include Darrius Heyward-Bey, but it is too early to say that he is a bust. Although his rookie season was absolutely horrible

Since: Oct 27, 2007

Posted on: February 16, 2010 12:35 pm

Oakland Raiders best & worst draft choices!

Howie Long is probably the best defensive player that has ever played for the Raiders. Thus, that bumps him up to the number 3 slot.

Since: Mar 23, 2007

Posted on: July 12, 2009 8:56 am

Oakland Raiders best & worst draft choices!

Yeah, I would put Howie at #3. Other than that, right on Hunter.

Since: Jul 26, 2008

Posted on: July 26, 2008 3:33 am

Oakland Raiders best & worst draft choices!

Great Post. I do feel that Howie should be a little closer to #1.

Since: May 9, 2008

Posted on: May 9, 2008 2:42 pm

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